Curly
Moe's Bluesman
I just bought a major recording studio.
Is that perhaps an exaggeration? Forgive me, I rarely indulge in that kind of cheap hype.
Well, I've been saving my tax return for the updated Bassman LTD, but it hasn't come into my store yet. I was growing very frustrated with the quality of the clips I was getting with my $2 computer mic and cheap soundcard, and I reread the "recording tips" thread a couple times.
I jumped the gun a little, and ordered a couple cheap preamps, then got some input from Steve_R and GoMano, and one of my old compadres, and started to consider a more long term solution. I know I have a tendency to buy a bunch of cheap crap 'cause it's tempting, then not be totally satisfied, as opposed to those times that I suck it up, and make a quality purchase that holds up over time and reaps a lot of benefits along the way. (Does anyone else do this?)
I like Steve's clips, so I asked him what he used, and he said he just used an old mixer that was versatile, easy to use, and could do double duty, so to speak. I was looking at a moderately priced Mackie mixer with a good preamp for about $400. (Looks like a terrific little mixer, BTW). I went to look at one locally, and realized I would still need a preamp to do any direct recording, so my cost just went up by another $100.
I casually mentioned the new Tascam deck that GoMano told me about that he said was the hit at NAMM - it's a 24-track digital portastudio. ..
"We have those"
Well, I looked at both options and went with the Portastudio. I also added an inexpensive Behringer rackmount tube preamp, and condenser mic. My total came to about the same as the online price of the Tascam alone.
I'm just an average guitar player, I know that. Some of you have heard my little clips, and I've heard lots of yours, and I've been inspired to do a lot better. I really can't compete in that area, but what I really want to do is be able to work on songs, and even once in a while write a song with some meaning, whether it's about what's going on in the world, personal heartbreak, love, life's little triumphs, the little things that keep us going, Truth, Redemption ....
I think I have the means now to work on songs for the first time in quite a while. I realized all of a sudden that I don't have any excuses, and I'm only limited now by my own creativity. Scary!
So, here's what I got:
24-track digital Portastudio
Behringer tube preamp
Behringer condenser mic
I already have a POD XT, an SM57 and SM58, and I'm well covered as far as a variety of acoustic guitar, electric guitars & amps. I just basically eventually need a bass for direct in, something for drum tracks, and a little keyboard, and I should be able to do just about anything I want to or can imagine.
My website has been a labor of love, starting out with having a simple chili recipe and my "History of the Blues, Part 1", to adding more and more guitar stuff - a lot of it's been throwing down my little clips in response to questions like, "What do ____ strat pickups sound like?" or "How's that SD Booster pedal?" etc, etc....
Maybe it's just me, but the number of effects questions seems to have increased, and I intend to eventually make clips for as many pedals as I can.
I'd just like to add that I really appreciate Steve_R's and GoMano's advice, as well as those who responded to the recent recording thread. Although I had to make some of my own choices, I kept thinking about something Robb said .."get the right stuff, and it will be the equivalent of walking into Electric Ladyland!" (Sorry, Robb, I know I'm paraphrasing).
Again, my humble thanks!
Peace,
Curly
"Then play on ..."
Is that perhaps an exaggeration? Forgive me, I rarely indulge in that kind of cheap hype.
Well, I've been saving my tax return for the updated Bassman LTD, but it hasn't come into my store yet. I was growing very frustrated with the quality of the clips I was getting with my $2 computer mic and cheap soundcard, and I reread the "recording tips" thread a couple times.
I jumped the gun a little, and ordered a couple cheap preamps, then got some input from Steve_R and GoMano, and one of my old compadres, and started to consider a more long term solution. I know I have a tendency to buy a bunch of cheap crap 'cause it's tempting, then not be totally satisfied, as opposed to those times that I suck it up, and make a quality purchase that holds up over time and reaps a lot of benefits along the way. (Does anyone else do this?)
I like Steve's clips, so I asked him what he used, and he said he just used an old mixer that was versatile, easy to use, and could do double duty, so to speak. I was looking at a moderately priced Mackie mixer with a good preamp for about $400. (Looks like a terrific little mixer, BTW). I went to look at one locally, and realized I would still need a preamp to do any direct recording, so my cost just went up by another $100.
I casually mentioned the new Tascam deck that GoMano told me about that he said was the hit at NAMM - it's a 24-track digital portastudio. ..
"We have those"
Well, I looked at both options and went with the Portastudio. I also added an inexpensive Behringer rackmount tube preamp, and condenser mic. My total came to about the same as the online price of the Tascam alone.
I'm just an average guitar player, I know that. Some of you have heard my little clips, and I've heard lots of yours, and I've been inspired to do a lot better. I really can't compete in that area, but what I really want to do is be able to work on songs, and even once in a while write a song with some meaning, whether it's about what's going on in the world, personal heartbreak, love, life's little triumphs, the little things that keep us going, Truth, Redemption ....
I think I have the means now to work on songs for the first time in quite a while. I realized all of a sudden that I don't have any excuses, and I'm only limited now by my own creativity. Scary!
So, here's what I got:
24-track digital Portastudio
Behringer tube preamp
Behringer condenser mic
I already have a POD XT, an SM57 and SM58, and I'm well covered as far as a variety of acoustic guitar, electric guitars & amps. I just basically eventually need a bass for direct in, something for drum tracks, and a little keyboard, and I should be able to do just about anything I want to or can imagine.
My website has been a labor of love, starting out with having a simple chili recipe and my "History of the Blues, Part 1", to adding more and more guitar stuff - a lot of it's been throwing down my little clips in response to questions like, "What do ____ strat pickups sound like?" or "How's that SD Booster pedal?" etc, etc....
Maybe it's just me, but the number of effects questions seems to have increased, and I intend to eventually make clips for as many pedals as I can.
I'd just like to add that I really appreciate Steve_R's and GoMano's advice, as well as those who responded to the recent recording thread. Although I had to make some of my own choices, I kept thinking about something Robb said .."get the right stuff, and it will be the equivalent of walking into Electric Ladyland!" (Sorry, Robb, I know I'm paraphrasing).
Again, my humble thanks!
Peace,
Curly
"Then play on ..."
